Relax - lifes a beach with the right team around you
11-Jun-15
10 weeks ago I booked a long-weekend trip to Dubai and I remember thinking at the time “everything will be under control by then!” We’ve had a lot of things going on in the business recently including two new staff members joining, a new division launch, new interview rooms installed and other major works to the building; hence the reason I felt I wanted to get away for a few days and would need the break! So today is the day I go on holiday – in fact I have a half day booked! But this week has been one of unexpected challenges, staff illness, tenders and audits – and I’m wondering where all the hours have gone. Being a Manager of a very busy and successful recruitment agency – often I feel taking any more than a couple of days holiday is not an option as there are always many plates to spin and responsibilities to juggle.. In my line of business I often come across key people who run their own business or are a key figure and they too seem to struggle with the thought of taking time off for holidays, let alone a 1-2 week holiday out of the business. Is this a limit we put on ourselves or is it the reality of the role we have taken on? My view is that it can be both depending on where your business is and when you want to holiday. I have to say I am always amazed at my fantastic team who seem to always be ready to take on key tasks and responsibilities when needed to ensure I feel confident when I am away. This reminds me that delegation is key in business as well as the development of the team around you so that they feel confident in taking on responsibilities in your absence. What we sometimes find hard to do is put that responsibility on those around us as we appreciate the hard work and efforts they are already putting in or we feel that perhaps we are best qualified - but does this stunt the business and limit growth? From my experience I think it does – let’s face it when we are recruiting we look for “team players”, we want staff that are ...
The trouble is, you think you have time
21-Apr-15
“Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity.” Jean de La Bruyère, Les Caractères I know I’m not the only one who wishes we had more hours in the day, right?! Whether it’s work, family, education, friends, children, hobbies, housework or ‘me time’, there seems to be something for all of us that we wish we had more time to dedicate to. After entering the world of recruitment less than a year ago, effective time management is undoubtedly a skill I am still honing! I had previously considered myself as somebody highly organised - I like lists, have a clear desk policy (at the start and end of the day at least), I had managed staff rotas and audits before – surely this wouldn’t be much harder? It seems I was mistaken! “Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time,' is like saying, 'I don't want to.” - Lao Tzu We all get the same 24 hours yet some people achieve so much more with their time than others – the reason for this – effective time management. But what does this actually mean? Using fancy technology to organise your life for you? Making more lists? Having a PA? Having recently taken on increasing levels of responsibility in my job role I sometimes feel I’m on the verge of a nervous breakdown and my time seems to be constantly slipping away and my time in the office has been steadily increasing day by day. After researching what I could do to help myself work more effectively – the greatest tip I have found without a doubt, has been to look back at the days I achieved the most – what did I do differently? I realised the days I was most effective were where I used effective time management techniques, so here are my top 10 tips: Make lists This goes without saying right?! No matter how photographic you may think your memory is, at some point there will be something you will forget if it is not written down. Whether it is used as a step by step guide for your day or a reference guide to use ...
Happiness
20-Mar-15
Today is International Happiness Day and its Friday! Need I say more! This wonderful celebration of Happiness is not exactly common knowledge, and I am thinking why not?! So let me tell you why you should know about it! After watching the shenanigans of St Patricks Day on Tuesday, and persevering with Valentine’s day (actually I probably had the best treat, being treated to a Go Karting session, I’m not a bears and cards person) I thought I would shout about something I am passionate about….Happiness! In whichever form it comes to each individual. I am a member of a group devoted to research in Happiness, in all aspects of life. And recently they have sent me a pack with some great ideas on how to encourage people to embrace well-being and positive social behaviours. Interestingly this group, Action for Happiness, found through years of research that one of the most important factors to happiness was the importance of our “connections with other people”. However, in today’s modern society there seems to be a real challenge in making these connections. They go on to state “We are surrounded by people, yet we feel genuinely connected to almost none of them” Source:- Action for Happiness, Happiness Pack 2015, page 2. Technical advancements and social media have led to fast moving business transactions and the ability to be in contact with a broad amount of people. However is quantity better than quality?? Only you can answer that, however in my instance I am definitely a quality person. As an agency, working with people is what we do, and this societal shift to technology based business has impacted us in many ways, most importantly it has led to people being reluctant at times to register in person, preferring to do it over the phone, or sometimes purely by email!! Don’t get me wrong we are pro-activists in the online movement…hence this blog, our Facebook page, Twitter plus we perform Skype interviews to assist ...
MC - Outstanding support and expertise!
05-Feb-15
I would like to thank Uxbridge Employment, especially Lauren and Liz for all their support and guidance in helping me gain my new job as a standards activation manager. The industry I work for is very niche with many recruiters turning myself away as they had no knowledge or expertise of my industry. I was impressed by the way that they concentrated on all my experience and found the perfect position for me. The level of communication they provided me was fantastic as they kept me informed at every stage. The help and support through the whole interview process made a lot of difference to my confidence as well. I will happily recommend Lauren and Liz at Uxbridge Employment to all my friends and colleagues who may be looking for work....
Finding your perfect match! Easier said than done I hear you say....
02-Feb-15
Whether it’s finding your perfect partner, house, employee or dream job it can be a challenge. But luckily the recruitment market is picking up and clients and candidates are benefiting from a buoyant job market. So how can you find your perfect job or candidate? When my team first spoke to me about this blog and our social media theme the first thing that came to mind was how much our job sometimes feels like a dating agency. So much so in fact we have often thought about opening one! With this analogy in mind I was thinking about how we can help when finding your dream job or candidate so here goes, let’s see how this works.... Thinking about on-line dating websites the first thing to think about is what you really want and who you want to attract. What is your check-list? What are your short-term goals/long-term goals? What would you be prepared to flexi on and what is definitely non-negotiable!! Next it’s all about your profile, CV or job spec. Let’s face it if someone doesn’t like what you have to say about yourself they won’t give you a second look (or maybe only when they have exhausted all other avenue’s and had a glass of wine or two) not what you ideally want! So make it positive, succinct and tailored to what you want. Job boards and social media sites give you the option to post a picture of yourself so think about what your profile picture says about you? Let’s be fair folks, people will make an impression of you from this - it’s only natural and we all do it. If you look a little bit worse for wear after a night out or are wearing your “beach attire” what might you be saying? It’s definitely something to think about as I know many of our Employers check out candidates before they come for interview. So you receive a message! Excellent someone is interested!! Do you play the game, play hard to get? Or respond immediately? In the case of finding your dream job or perfect candidate, you need to respond immediately, time is of the essence as ...
At Uxbridge Employment Agency, our tagline has always been “people in a people business”, as we’ve always believed recruitment doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs to be human.Recently, one of our longstanding clients sent us a testimonial that reminded us why we do what we do. Their words were generous, but more importantly, they captured the essence of what makes recruitment partnerships thrive.Here’s what stood out and why it matters a great deal to us, as their words encapsulated the service we aim to offer; Simplicity Over Complexity“The thing with you guys, it’s like calling a mate to ask for help. There are no complicated processes, no one-hour calls to qualify the role, and I’m not passed to someone miles away I’ve never spoken to.”This really resonated with us because we’ve seen how recruitment can become over-engineered. Many agencies put clients through hoops before any progress is made — long qualification calls, multiple handovers, and unnecessary steps that take time but don’t add value.For us, the process has always been simple: pick up the phone, have an open conversation, and let us get to work. Our clients trust us because not only have we had over 45 years local experience, but we take the time to visit them and understand their business. This means they don’t need to re-explain everything every time and that simplicity saves time, removes friction, and lets us focus on what matters most — finding the right people! Approachability Matters“Guaranteed to take the call in a friendly manner… Nothing is too much trouble, even if it’s just a question about the market in Uxbridge.”Recruitment isn’t just about jobs — it’s about relationships. Sometimes our clients call with an urgent vacancy, but often they just want advice: a sense check on salaries, insight into the candidate market, or a second opinion on their plans.We take pride in being approachable. There’s no “meter running” when you pick up the phone to us. Our role is to be a trusted ...
It’s no secret that August is one of the quietest months in the business calendar. Offices thin out, HR decision-makers head off on holiday, and inboxes are set to “out of office.” But while the world slows down, the savviest hiring managers see this lull as a strategic opportunity.Here’s why making a move now (rather than waiting until the September rush), can give you the edge. 1. Less Competition = First Pick of TalentCome September, the hiring market floods back into action. Everyone is chasing the same talent pool at the same time - and by then, some of the best candidates may already be gone.By starting your search in August, you avoid the crowd and increase your chances of securing the right person before others have even got going. 2. You’ll Get More Time (and Attention) from Your RecruiterRecruitment agencies (ours included) tend to have more bandwidth in August, meaning you get more time dedicated to your search. We’re able to dig deeper into shortlists, move quicker on promising CVs, and really tailor your campaign - all without the usual pile-on that comes in autumn. 3. Candidates Are Still Looking — And Many Are Ready for a September StartNot everyone is on a beach in August. Plenty of excellent candidates are actively looking, especially those: Coming to the end of a contract Relocating over the summer Exploring post-bonus moves Looking to leave before the next quarter begins By engaging them now, you’re in a stronger position to line up interviews and offers for an early September start. 4. You’ll Avoid the September ScrambleIf you've ever tried hiring in September, you’ll know how hectic it gets. Roles build up, internal workloads increase, and hiring decisions are expected yesterday.Starting in August means you: Lock in your shortlist calmly Avoid rushed decisions Onboard early and hit the ground running Final Thought: The Smartest Hires Start EarlyAugust may not be the obvious time to recruit - but that’s exactly why it works. While others hit ...
As summer approaches and many businesses navigate ongoing uncertainty, the demand for temporary workers continues to rise - and it’s not hard to see why. From SMEs to larger organisations, teams across the UK are turning to temps to help manage workload peaks, cover absences, and provide short-term flexibility at a time when permanent hiring is often stalled.We’ve seen this trend play out first-hand as local businesses come to us for fast, reliable temporary support — not just for holiday cover, but as a strategic response to wider hiring challenges.So, what’s driving the surge in temp demand?1. Hiring Freezes & Budget ConstraintsMany companies are still facing internal sign-off delays, spending reviews, or formal hiring freezes — particularly in mid-sized and larger organisations. Even when there’s a business case for extra resource, getting permanent headcount approved can be slow or blocked altogether.Temps provide a way around that. They allow businesses to bring in much-needed help without committing to a long-term hire or navigating layers of red tape.2. Workloads Aren’t Slowing DownDespite caution on the hiring front, the work keeps coming. From customer demand and internal projects to compliance deadlines and seasonal peaks, businesses still need to deliver — and often with fewer people than they’d like.Temporary workers are a practical, scalable way to plug those gaps quickly and keep teams moving.3. The Summer SqueezeWith school holidays just around the corner, many teams are about to feel the impact of reduced headcount even more. Summer absence cover — particularly in office-based roles — is often underestimated, but when multiple people are away at once, the effect on service levels, morale, and output can be significant.Booking holiday cover early ensures the best availability — especially for specialist or part-time needs.4. Temp-to-Perm is Becoming the New NormalA growing number of companies are using temporary contracts as a low-risk way to ...
Uxbridge Employment Agency Named Finalist in the Hillingdon Business Awards!!We are thrilled to announce that we have been named a finalist for the Business Service Company of the Year at the Hillingdon Business Awards 2025! This recognition means the world to us, as it celebrates our commitment to providing personalised recruitment services to our local community for over 45 years.Being a family-run agency, established back in 1978, we have always believed in the power of local expertise, personalised service, and long-term relationships. Our journey has been about more than matching people with jobs—it's been about contributing to the prosperity of businesses in Middlesex, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and the surrounding areas. We've always taken immense pride in building these relationships, and this nomination is a testament to all that hard work and dedication!A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Clients and CommunityThis achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our clients and the wider community. Many of you have been with us for years—some even decades—and it’s your trust and loyalty that allow us to do what we love. This recognition belongs to all of us. Thank you for being part of our story and for letting us be part of yours.As Charles Tuthill, Managing Director at Uxbridge Employment Agency, shared: "We are honoured to be recognised as a finalist in this year’s Hillingdon Business Awards. This recognition is a testament to our team’s dedication to honesty, integrity, and the personal touch we bring to every client and candidate relationship. We look forward to continuing to make a positive impact within our community and supporting local businesses in their growth."What This Means for UsBeing recognised as a finalist is not just a proud moment, but also a motivation to continue improving and serving our community. We have faced challenges, like many other small businesses, but our investment in new technologies and creative ...
